The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-03

fears OF loss. But, IN the nope tnat
might be able to save some of our
household treasures, passed the fire.
mems rope and ran to the parlof. To
ascend the stairs which led to the
chambers l saw would be impossible
In the intensely heated and sitting at
mosphere, the best that / could do was
hastily to load my arms with few of
our most valuable possessions and
hurry out
As l stumbled down the steps. l
heard shout from the crowd outside.
Gaining place Of safety, / laid down
my burden, cleared my eyes Of the
binding smoke and looked backward.
Judge of my surprise and dread at be-
holding Noah Peters, look of grim de-
termination on his face. running rap
idly up the ladder which the fremen
had left!
HE acts like fool Niger" said
bystander; '.but they say there's .
baby Of his in the house."
Everything was explained. Noah,
coming to make his daily call for news,
had understood, in some way, that his
child had been found. and was in the
house. He had started to save her.
That portion of the ladder which
rested against the second-story window
had caught fire. As he neared it, Noah
bounded to the ivy-trellis; and using
that frail support for foothold, drew
himself up by the water-pipe until he
disappeared amid the smoke which
burst from an upper window.
Then Uncle Abe, his countenance like
that of dead man, came to my side.
God help de boy-an' mel" he
groaned. He's done gone to death an
l killed him. DEFY. go git dat baby.
She's slowed away in de little els
tern!"
At that moment Noah's face was
seen at the window. Framed in the
lurid glare, it looked death-stricken
and despairing. Abe fell on his knees
in the midst of the crowd. As loud as
could / shouted: Come! your child
is here?' as Della. whose fear had lent
her wings, pushed her way to us. hold
ing Noah's baby to her own broad
breast
The fire was all about him now, but
the sight Of the little one for whom he
had periled life gave him new courage.
Down through the smoke and fame,
catching at the cracking trellis, touch
ing his feet on the cornices, clinging
to the pipe which had aided his ascent
he came to us, falling, bleeding,
burning mass on The scorched grass at
our feet
go to your fodder, 'Lizy," said
Uncle Abe, solemnly. Il KANT hub you
no better'n he does. see it now"
Tenderly the injured man was borne
to the shelter OF hospitable neighbor's
house. With him went the child"
Had Noah's life been at the mercy of
novelist, he might have died. As this
is true story, it becomes me to say he
did not die. His recovery was not
speedily brought about, and he will
carry to his grave the marks of the in
juries which he received that night;
yet he is now restored to health, and
happier, more content and prosperous,
than ever before.
In the long days of anxious waiting
during Noah's convalescence, Abe told
me, bit by bit the story of his selfish
and criminal attempt to keep Lily.
"Ise mizzable sinner, he confessed.
Noah lowed if 'twuzn't for dat baby
he'd go to Californy, an reckoned
dat # could hide her awhile he'd go
an we mout hev her. reckermem-
bered dar want no water in dat dar
little cistern, so put her in dar. an
DEFY didn' kno muffin bout it. De
baby-huhLshe wux dat tickled wild
her 'cubby-house' she'd a-stayed dar
tell de crack O. doom!
II stole dat truck from de pantry,
but nebber did no sech ting afoah.
II kinder s'cused myself dat Noah
didn't lub that baby same way we did.
Now DEFY says he telled her we all lib
togedder wen he done got well. Ain
dat good OBJ himp Ise afeared Ise too
mizzable a sinner to lib wild anybody
but myself, but amt got no doubt
but Noah'll take good car OBJ dat ar
baby!"- Walter L. Sawyer, in Youths
Communion